Our History
The APBD Research Foundation was founded in 2005 by Gregory Weiss with the support of his brothers Michael and Emil Weiss. Gregory – after being diagnosed with and treated for MS for years – finally received the APBD diagnosis in 2004. From a desire to help other APBD patients avoid the challenges and isolation he faced, Gregory was committed to doing all that he could to find a cure for this devastating disease. He asked Dr. Edwin Kolodny at NYU Medical Center, his doctor, for guidance to build the community and advance APBD research from the ground up.
The Weiss Brothers
Immediately after the Weiss brothers launched the Foundation’s website, patients from around the world responded. It was a few months later that the Weiss brothers met Jeff Levenson, DDS at Dr. Kolodny’s office. Jeff, having dealt with APBD in his own family, joined the Foundation’s early work. The Foundation has been working diligently ever since to find therapies for APBD and allied diseases while improving the lives of patients, and the families, impacted.
So much has been accomplished from modest beginnings, a small patient base, and shoestring resources. And as we pressed forward – even in the middle of the global pandemic – we continued to engage patients, connect with researchers and clinicians, and create community hubs around the world, preparing the way for clinical trials and hope for therapies.